My view is that the land should be owned by a state resource land agency.

1) First choice: DCNR2) Second choice: PA Game Commission

Either agency would do a good job, in my opinion, based on what I've seen on their lands.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems you do not favor a compromise at all. With an enormous amount of luck, maybe the matter can be stonewalled until PSU finds some other property to acquire. Let's hope it isn't even more sensitive land that involves a private sell without easements or restrictions on use.

Posted on: 2010/1/29 14:05

_________________The doctrine of free will is the invention of the ruling class.

Maybe a stupid question but wouldnt Penn State also have courses on land management and erosion control?

Yes, PSU is planning on using only a small part of it for ag research. Much of it is to be used as a forestry and fisheries classrom. They plan to reforest much of it, remove invasive species, try to grow the American Chestnut, etc.

IMO, perhaps I'm with Troutbert that I'd rather see the game commission or DCNR get it. But even PSU would be a fine option, probably better than the status quo, which isn't all that bad itself.

The land in question totals about 1800 acres. Legislators Hanna and Benninghoff had introduced competing legislation. But now they've come up with a compromise. Everyone around here seems to believe that this compromise will go through. So things have quieted down. It never hurts to send your views to your legislators, because the actual legislation has not yet been presented. But unless something unusual happens, their plan will probably go through.

Their plan for the 1800 acres is:

Penn State (Ag Science Dept.) would get 500 acres flanking I99.

PFBC would get the land Benner Spring hatchery is located on and little bit of adjacent land. And they would get stream corridor land at the lower end, that would extend up past the pistol range, past the blue footbridge, past the old hatch house, past the dirt ponds, around the bend, and ending at old diversion dam near the sign where the pentitentiary currently has no trespassing signs.

Benner Twp would get a few acres for a public parking area. (They threw them a bone.)

The majority of the acreage, including the middle part of the stream corridor and the bulk of the uplands, would go to the PA Game Commission.

So, I think the issue is basically over. For those of you contacted your legislators expressing your views, congratulations for being active citizens.

Locally, we will continue to try to do what we can to maintain the integrity of the creek and land. But I think the ownership issue has probably been decided.

When this legislation might be introduced and passed, I don't know. But they will surely try to get it done before the Rendell administration is over.